In a match marked by twists and turns, Rajasthan Royals faced a tough start as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler fell victim to early wickets within the powerplay, courtesy of Umesh Yadav and Rashid Khan respectively. Rain briefly interrupted proceedings in Jaipur, where the Gujarat Titans, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, elected to field after winning the toss at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
However, Rajasthan found their stride post-powerplay, with Riyan Parag (76) and skipper Sanju Samson (68 not out) orchestrating a formidable partnership of 130 runs. Their explosive batting propelled the 2008 champions to a competitive total of 196/3 in 20 overs, despite Rashid Khan’s impressive bowling performance for GT, claiming 1 wicket and conceding just 18 runs.
In response, Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill’s aggressive innings of 72 runs off 44 balls, mounted a spirited chase. Gill also etched his name in IPL history as the youngest Indian batter to reach 3,000 runs in the tournament. Though Rajasthan’s Yuzvendra Chahal managed to dismiss Gill in the 16th over, Rahul Tewatia (22) and Rashid Khan (24*) engineered a thrilling comeback for Gujarat.
The match reached a crescendo as Rashid Khan struck a boundary off the final ball, securing a dramatic three-wicket victory for the 2022 champions. This win marked Rajasthan Royals’ first defeat of the new season, underlining the intense competition of IPL 2024.
Key Highlights:
- Gujarat Titans clinched victory with a total of 199/7, defeating Rajasthan Royals (196/3) by 3 wickets in Jaipur.
- Rashid Khan remained unbeaten on 24 off just 11 balls, playing a crucial role in GT’s triumph.
- Shubman Gill’s explosive 72 off 44 balls propelled GT’s chase, earning him the distinction of being the second-fastest Indian to reach 3,000 IPL runs.
- Rajasthan Royals’ innings featured Sanju Samson’s half-century off 31 balls and Riyan Parag’s equally impressive half-century off 34 balls.
- Shubman Gill won the toss for Gujarat Titans, who opted to bowl first against RR. The toss was delayed due to rain in Jaipur, adding to the suspense of the match.
